Abstract: The apparatus for reading a symbol of a 2-dimensional code has a diffusion plate and a diffuse reflection surface between a light source unit and an opening to prevent light emitted from the light source unit from directly reaching the opening. Illumination light from the light source unit reaches the diffuse reflection surface while the central axis of the light is shifted from the optical path to the diffusion plate. With this arrangement, nonuniformity of illumination light irradiated on a a symbol on object can be prevented, and a halation of light can be prevented. The symbol of the 2-dimensional code can therefore be accurately read.

Abstract: Of a plurality of page memories for storing printing data corresponding to the printing heads, at least the page memory is associated with an auxiliary memory for storing at least two continuous pages of printing data for at least one printing head, wherein a printing data write unit executes a process for writing the next page of printing data in one of the page memory and the auxiliary memory while the printing data stored in the other one of the page memory and the auxiliary memory is being printed, and the image processing unit supplies printing data continuously and alternately from the page memory and the auxiliary memory to each corresponding printing head.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus which has a communication interface element for connecting between an external apparatus and outputting element. The outputting element outputs the data received from the external apparatus by a normal speed parallel communication through the communication interface element. The data processing apparatus includes a DMAC for connecting between the communication interface element and the outputting element. Designating data which can be included in the received data designates performing a high speed parallel communication. The DMAC is started in response to the designating.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus including an electrically conductive brush roller for recovering and discharging a residual toner and removing paper dust which is located in contact with a photoreceptor drum. A positive voltage is applied to a transfer roller, whereupon the toner is charged positively. As a recording region on the photoreceptor drum with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon passes the brush roller, a voltage of a potential lower than the potential of the recording region is applied to the brush roller, and the brush roller recovers the residual toner. As a non-recording region on the photoreceptor drum without the latent image thereon passes the brush roller, on the other hand, a voltage of a potential higher than the potential of the non-recording region is applied to the brush roller, and the recovered toner is discharged onto the non-recording region. The discharged toner is returned to a developing roller after a charging process.

Abstract: A printer allowing attachment and detachment of an external device for improving a paper feed system. The printer allows either an automatic sheet feeder for successively feeding a plurality of cut sheets of paper or a tractor device for feeding a continuous sheet of paper as the external device to be selectively mounted, and the printer itself includes a permanent tractor, in which the permanent tractor and the external device can be driven by a common driving source. More specifically, the printer includes a printing mechanism, a paper feed path communicating with the printing mechanism, a driving source for the paper feed system, and an output gear connected to an output shaft of the driving source. The permanent tractor is located so as to communicate with the paper feed path, and includes an input gear connected to the output shaft of the driving source.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which one of two types of printing heads with opposite scan directions is selectively mounted and the mounted printing head is supplied with printing data representing an image to be printed, thereby printing the image, includes a printing data transfer unit for transferring the printing data to the mounted printing head in one of an order from a beginning to an end of a scan line and an order from the end to the beginning of the scan line; a head recognition unit for recognizing the type of the mounted printing head; and a transfer control unit for enabling the printing data transfer unit to transfer the printing data in the order associated with the type of the mounted printing head recognized by the head recognition unit.

Abstract: A digitizer includes a reference level generator for generating a reference level, a comparator for comparing a signal level of the analog input with the reference level to provide a digitized output, a first detecting circuit for detecting a moderate change in the signal level of the analog input so as to change the reference level in accordance with the detected moderate change in the signal level of the analog input, and a second detecting circuit for detecting a rapid change in the signal level of the analog input so as to change the reference level in accordance with the detected rapid change in the signal level of the analog input.

Abstract: A serial printer includes a printing unit for carrying a print head, a DC power unit for generating a DC drive voltage to drive a carriage motor of the printing unit, and a control unit for performing an initializing operation. In this initializing operation, the print head is moved in reciprocal directions when the initialization request signal from the host apparatus is received by the printer, but only after the elapse of a waiting time corresponding to an attenuating period of the DC voltage. This control sequence avoids the performance of an initializing operation by the printer when the initialization request signal has been issued by the host apparatus as the DC voltage is attenuating, such as when power is being shut off, so that the printer would remain engaged for an insufficient time to complete the initializing operation.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with a head pressing mechanism for pressing a thermal head against a platen, a paper feeding mechanism for feeding print paper between the thermal head and the platen in a secondary scanning direction, a ribbon transporting mechanism for transporting an ink ribbon between the thermal head and the platen in the secondary scanning direction, and a press releasing mechanism for causing the thermal head to move away from the platen against a pressing force of the head pressing mechanism. The press releasing mechanism slides a rod of a solenoid, elongated in the secondary scanning direction, at the position opposing to the rear surface of the thermal head in the secondary scanning direction. A lever link transforms this sliding action into the departing action of the thermal head from the platen.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller which rotates along with the photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and feeding toner to be adhered to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, a conductive blade for uniformly limiting the thickness of the toner put on the developing roller, and a first high-voltage generator for generating a development bias voltage of -200 V which is supplied to the developing roller and biases the potential of the toner. Particularly, the developing apparatus further includes a second high-voltage generator for generating a blade voltage of -300 V which is supplied to the conductive blade and electrostatically charging the toner to compensate for a shortage of the electrostatic charge obtained in the toner by friction on the developing roller.

Abstract: A handy scanner removably held by a scanner holder is composed of an LED unit for illuminating a bar code affixed to an article, a light-receiving unit for producing an output signal corresponding to reflected light from the bar code, and a processing section for obtaining bar code information from the output signal produced by the light-receiving unit. Particularly, the processing section includes a comparator for determining whether the handy scanner is held by the holder, and a control circuit for turning on the LED unit when it is detected by the comparator that the handy scanner is removed from the scanner holder and turning off the LED unit when the bar code information has not been obtained within a predetermined time after turning on the LED unit.

Abstract: An optical code reader includes a reading window, a reading control circuit for sensing an image of a 2-dimensional code via the reading window in a state where the reading window is set within a preset distance from the 2-dimensional code and converting the sensed image into image data, a guide light source for applying a guide light beam to permit the 2-dimensional code to be guided within the reading range of the reading control circuit, and a portable frame having an opening used as the reading window, for accommodating the reading control circuit and guide light source. In the optical code reader, the guide light beam indicates the center of the reading range and is applied from the guide light source except for a period during which the image of the 2-dimensional code is sensed by the reading control circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printer and comprises a printing mechanism, a paper guiding path connecting with the printing mechanism, a driving source for a paper conveying system, an output gear connected to an output shaft of the driving source, and a permanent tractor having an input gear. The selective transmission of power from the driving source to either the output gear or the input gear provided in the permanent tractor is performed by a power selecting mechanism operated by an operating member. Further, the printer comprises a second drive force selecting mechanism for independently displacing a cam member in the printer and a clutch section for severing the connection between the output gear and the auxiliary tractor in order to feed only the cut paper.

Abstract: An exposing device includes a laser light source section for emitting a laser beam, an optical scanning section for scanning a surface of a photosensitive drum in one direction with the laser beam emitted from the laser light source section, and a light source driving section for selectively driving the laser source in dot exposing cycles to form one of an exposure dot and non-exposure dot on the surface of the photosensitive drum within a scanning range of the optical scanning section. Particularly, the light source driving section incudes a laser control circuit for changing a laser power of the laser beam in a predetermined control pattern during each dot exposing cycle assigned to form an exposure dot adjacent to a non-exposure dot. The control pattern is predetermined such that the laser power is changed from a first level to a second level lower than the first level in a first half of the dot exposing cycle, and from the second level to the first level in the remaining half of the dot exposing cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ribbon cassette for use with a printer, including a cassette case detachably mounted in the printer and an ink ribbon stored in the cassette case and partially exposed to face a print head provided in the printer. The ribbon cassette further includes a ribbon take-up member rotatably supported in the cassette case, a driven member rotatably supported in the cassette case and meshing with the ribbon take-up member through the ink ribbon, and a power transmitting member provided in the ribbon take-up member to connect the ribbon take-up member to a ribbon driving shaft provided in the printer. A breaking strength of the power transmitting member against a load from the ink ribbon is set smaller than that of the ribbon driving shaft. Accordingly, in the event that ribbon jam occurs, the power transmitting member breaks to thereby prevent fracture of the ribbon driving shaft in the printer.

Abstract: A load cell unit in accordance with the present invention comprises a load cell and a wiring board. The load cell comprises a flexible member provided with a through hole formed between the fixed end and the moving end thereof so as to form four flexible portions, and strain gages attached to the flexible portions, respectively. The wiring board is provided with a circuit connected to the strain gages of the load cell so as to form a bridge circuit including the strain gages, and a processing circuit connected to the bridge circuit. The wiring board has a first major surface mounted with at least film capacitors among the circuit elements of the processing circuit, and a second major surface.

Abstract: An automatic coin discharge apparatus includes a housing which has a coin-receiving opening and a coin discharge opening, a coin-storing unit which extends in the horizontal direction in the housing and stores a plurality of coins of the same denomination in a piled-up state in one line in the horizontal direction with side surfaces of the coins facing each other, a coin-urging member which urges the plurality of coins in the coin line in the coin-storing unit toward one end portion of the coin-storing unit in a direction along the coin line, a coin transporting unit which extends in the housing from the coin-receiving opening toward the one end portion of the coin-storing unit and transports coins received by the coin-receiving opening toward the one end portion of the coin-storing unit, a coin inserting unit which inserts coins transported toward the one end portion of the coin-storing unit by the coin transporting unit, into a position nearest to the one end portion of the coin-storing unit in the coin lin

Abstract: An ink jet printer is featured by pinch rollers disposed so as to be in contact with the printed surface of a printed recording sheet to press the printed recording sheet against an ejecting roller in contact with the non-printed surface of the printed recording sheet to advance the printed recording sheet to an ejecting unit, cleaning members disposed in contact respectively with the respective circumferences of the pinch rollers to remove the ink adhering to the circumferences of the pinch rollers, and a holding member detachably holding the cleaning members on one side of the holding member so as to be in contact through an opening with the pinch rollers on another side of the holding member at a specified pressure. The cleaning members can be easily replaced with new ones without requiring special skill.

Abstract: A sales-registration-data processing apparatus includes a display unit being independent of a control unit housing and having a display portion on an outer surface thereof, and a tilt-angle adjustment and maintaining mechanism rotatably connecting the display unit to the housing, capable of tilting the display unit with respect to the housing and maintaining a desired tilt angle of the display unit.