Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a maintenance device configured to minimize the occupied space. The maintenance device includes a movable cap carriage supporting a cap and including two guide pins. The cap is engageable with an ink jet head of the ink jet printing apparatus. A cover surrounds the cap carriage and includes two guide slots receiving the two guide pins of the cap carriage, respectively. When a printing carriage engages a printing carriage engaging member of the maintenance device, the guide pins are caused to ride in the guide slots, enabling the movable cap carriage to be shifted from a recessed position to an engaged position where the cap engages the ink jet head. The two guide slots are inclined at different angles to minimize the frictional resistance during the shift from the recessed position to the engaged position.

Abstract: An ink cartridge carrier for an ink ejection printing apparatus that provides for positively attaching a flexible cable between the control unit and the ink cartridge carrier. The ink cartridge carrier has an integral construction with slots provided on either side of the front frame section for feeding an end of the flexible cable therethrough and engaging the end of the flexible cable. When the flexible cable is so engaged, contacts found on the flexible cable are properly positioned to contact contacts on a mounted ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a maintenance device configured to minimize the occupied space. The maintenance device includes a movable cap carriage supporting a cap and including two guide pins. The cap is engageable with an ink jet head of the ink jet printing apparatus. A cover surrounds the cap carriage and includes two guide slots receiving the two guide pins of the cap carriage, respectively. When a printing carriage engages a printing carriage engaging member of the maintenance device, the guide pins are caused to ride in the guide slots, enabling the movable cap carriage to be shifted from a recessed position to an engaged position where the cap engages the ink jet head. The two guide slots are inclined at different angles to minimize the frictional resistance during the shift from the recessed position to the engaged position.

Abstract: A mechanism for preventing rattling between a display cover that is pivotable about a chassis includes a first engagement surface associated with a display cover, and a second engagement surface associated with a chassis, the first and second engagement surfaces being slidably rotatable to allow the display cover to pivot about the chassis in a rotational range defined between open and closed positions. The mechanism includes a device for substantially preventing relative axial movement between the first and second engagement surfaces in the rotatable range. An elongated arcuate segment mounted on the first engagement surface mates with a corresponding elongated slot formed on the second engagement surface. The slot may be sized and dimensioned so as to constitute a stop for the positioning projection so that damage can be prevented that would otherwise occur between the liquid crystal display panel and the keyboard.

Abstract: A paper conveyance system for individually transporting cut sheets having various thicknesses and rigidity through a printing device includes a main roller for driving the cut sheets, a nip pair located downstream of the main roller, and a top paper guide movable to accommodate the cut sheets having variable thicknesses. The cut sheets are transported between the top paper guide and the main roller and the system includes a device or limiting mechanism for preventing the top paper guide from rotating greater than a predetermined amount in the event that thick or stiff sheet material is conveyed through the printing device. With such an arrangement, both thin sheet and thick sheet material can be accurately directed to a nip roller pair located at an outlet of the printing device. A holder for an upper one of the roller nip pair also includes a tapered guide portion for guiding the leading edge and the longitudinal edges of the sheet material as the sheet material passes through the nip roller pair.

Abstract: A portable ironing press uses a compression spring to generate pressure between two pivotable plates for smoothing out a garment. The press includes a chain-and-gear arrangement to selectively apply the pressure of the spring to the plates.