Abstract: A transfer ribbon is suitable for use with either a thermal printer or an impact printer. The transfer ribbon comprises a substrate and a transfer coating which is coated on one side of the substrate. The transfer coating contains about 20 to 60 percent magnetic pigment; about 5 to 10 percent carbon pigment; about 0.1 to 10 percent film forming material; and about 20 to 60 percent wax binder.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon has a substrate, an undercoating which contains thermal reactive materials and leuco dyes, and a thermal transfer coating applied on the undercoating and which contains a mixture of a wax emulsion and a sensible material, the undercoating assisting the transfer of color images of an improved intensity and sharpness to a receiving medium upon the application of heat to the ribbon. The invention also covers incorporation of the leuco dye and a reactant in the functional coating to intensify the transferred image, with or without the presence of sensible materials such as iron oxide or fluroescent dye, to improve the sharpness and the scratch and smear resistance of the transferred image. An alternative to the two coatings is a single coating which includes pigments with sensing characteristics, thermal reactive material, and transfer agents to obtain an improved intensity image.

Abstract: A multiple ply label has an extension that includes a bar code symbol and the extension is folded under the label ply when the label is attached to an article for the purpose of protecting the bar code symbol. Another embodiment of the multiple ply label has a cutout portion that allows a bar code symbol to be positioned so as to be partially covered by an overlying ply when the label is attached to an article for the purpose of protecting one portion of the bar code symbol while exposing the other portion of the symbol. The overlying layers or plies of the multiple ply label can be removed at successive stations while protecting the bar code symbol.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette has an endless ribbon contained in the cavity of the cassette and the ribbon is directed by guide arms in a path past a printing station. A ribbon drive roller and a driven roller are positioned within the cavity and the drive roller has a shaft connected with a first bevel gear which engages a second bevel gear for driving the ribbon.

Abstract: A business form has a plurality of portions used as labels for carrying data or information and such labels are placed on packages or containers in transit. The business form has at least one portion which is folded under another portion and the form includes lines of perforations and slits for enabling the folding and for separation of certain parts. An address label has edge portions secured to the package or container and at least one edge portion is designed to be conveniently released from a release liner carrying the labels.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette has a first tension spring located at an exit port of a cavity of the cassette and a second tension spring located at one corner of the cassette which provides a correct tautness of the ribbon as it travels past the line of printing. The cassette also has a ribbon shield which is positioned relative to printing elements to maintain the ribbon in a straight plane along the line of printing.

Abstract: A business form has a first ply and a second ply with an insert ply therebetween. The insert ply has a cutout portion along the upper edge of a certain dimension and a cutout portion along the lower edge of a lesser dimension than the cutout portion along the upper edge, the upper cutout portion accommodating adhesive for sealing a return envelope of a mailer that uses the same ply for the back of the outgoing mailer and for the back of the return envelope.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes at least one code establishing section which is readily removable or separated from the board and also includes printed wiring connected to a voltage source and to a ground. When the code establishing section is removed, the level of an output signal from the voltage source is inverted from the level of the output signal prior to removal of the code establishing section in order to establish a desired unique code. A second arrangement of the apparatus includes a main portion and two removable portions of the board with a pair of voltage sources on the main portion and a ground connection on one of the two removable portions. The method of establishing a unique address code is accomplished by removing one of the removable portions to provide an output signal of a level that is inverted from the level of an original signal. Subsequent removal of the other removable portion provides an output signal of a level that is the same level as the original signal.

Abstract: A business form has a plurality of portions used as labels for carrying data or information and such labels are placed on packages or containers in transit. The business form has at least one portion which is folded under another portion and the form includes lines of perforations and slits for enabling the folding and for separation of certain parts. An address label has edge portions secured to the package or container and at least one edge portion is designed to be conveniently released from a release liner carrying the labels.

Abstract: A passbook transporting or conveying mechanism has front gripping rollers for gripping the passbook in unprinted areas thereof and for moving the passbook to a printing station. The front gripping rollers are caused to be moved along guide rods in a rearward direction by driving wires or cables connected to roller supports. The passbook is received by rear gripping rollers which are caused to be moved along guide rods in a further rearward direction by driving wires or cables connected to roller supports to a predetermined position for reading a magnetic stripe on the back cover of the passbook. The magnetic stripe on the passbook is read out and the passbook is moved forward to position the passbook at the printing station for the printing operations on the desired print line or lines. After the printing operations, the passbook is again moved rearward to record the printed information in the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon has a substrate, an undercoating which contains thermal reactive materials and leuco dyes, and a thermal transfer coating applied on the undercoating and which contains a mixture of a wax emulsion and a sensible material, the undercoating assiting the transfer of color images of an improved intensity and sharpness to a receiving medium upon the application of heat to the ribbon. The invention also covers incorporation of the leuco dye and a reactant in the functional coating to intensify the transferred image, with or without the presence of sensible materials such as iron oxide or fluroescent dye, to improve the sharpness and the scratch and smear resistance of the transferred image. An alternative to the two coatings is a single coating which includes pigments with sensing characteristics, thermal reactive material, and transfer agents to obtain an improved intensity image.

Abstract: A magnetic thermal transfer ribbon includes a substrate and a thermal sensitive coating which is a mixture and essentially consists of a fatty alcohol, a water base latex, an intensifying dye, an adhesive, and a surface agent along with iron oxide, and the coating mixture is dispersed in alcohol, in water, or in a combined water/alcohol mixture.

Abstract: A magnetic thermal transfer ribbon includes a substrate and a thermal sensitive coating which is a mixture and essentially consists of a fatty alcohol, a water base latex, an intensifying dye, an adhesive, and a surface agent along with iron oxide, and the coating mixture is dispersed in alcohol, in water, or in a combined water/alcohol mixture.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon includes a substrate and a layer thereon comprising a mixture of an emulsion essentially consisting of hydrocarbon, paraffin and carnauba waxes and an acetate copolymer, and a fluorescent color coating essentially containing a fluorescent pigment, a color toner and a filler.

Abstract: A magnetic thermal transfer ribbon includes a substrate and a thermal sensitive coating which is a mixture and essentially consists of a fatty alcohol, a water base latex, an intensifying dye, an adhesive, and a surface agent along with iron oxide, and the coating mixture is dispersed in alcohol, in water, or in a combined water/alcohol mixture.

Abstract: A printer has a bi-directional stepper motor that drives an endless toothed belt which is secured to a print head carriage for driving the carriage back and forth across the printer along a line of printing. A timing strip is molded integral with the frame of the printer and positioned under the print head carriage. An optical sensor of the light emitting diode and phototransistor type is secured to the underside of the carriage and positioned to straddle the timing strip as the carriage is driven back and forth across the printer. The printer controller uses timing strip/sensor signals to place the print head in a home position when the printer is turned on and also when the print head has been moved from an operating position, e.g. in the case of changing a ribbon. The timing strip/sensor signals are also used to detect a carriage jam condition.

Abstract: A print control mechanism for a dot matrix printer for effecting normal printing speed relative to response time of the print elements. The mechanism includes a memory for storing the status of a previous printing operation by one print element prior to a subsequent printing operation by the same print element. The mechanism includes print inhibiting means coupled to the memory and adapted to compare a print command signal with a memory signal and to output a signal forbidding the subsequent printing operation by the same print element when it receives a print command signal following the previous printing operation. The effect of this mechanism is to inhibit continuous printing of dots in very dot position in the lateral direction for those characters which can be printed with dots in every other dot position to enable normal printing speed.

Abstract: A file backup system for POS data includes a master terminal and a backup terminal along with a master file and a backup file, all of which are coupled to a plurality of satellite terminals. A file controller is provided for each of the files. When one of the files is down, the master file is capable of copying the contents of the down file while simultaneously responding to a request from any terminal and controlling the transfer of data without stopping the operation of the system.

Abstract: A communication system uses a two-wire circuit and includes a master terminal and a backup terminal, and a main file and a backup file along with associated link control devices coupled to a plurality of satellite terminals. Each link control device functions both as a monitor and as a communication controller with priority between the link control devices for each of the files and terminals to maintain operation of the system.