Abstract: Slit valve apparatuses are described. In one aspect, a slit valve apparatus is disclosed having a gate with at least one sealing surface, a blocker element, and a connector member that structurally connects the gate and the blocker element. Systems and methods including the slit valve apparatus are also disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: A deposition apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of reaction spaces, a plurality of plasma electrodes respectively disposed in the reaction spaces, a first plasma processor connected to at least two plasma electrodes, and a first plasma power source connected to the first plasma processor. The first plasma processor may include a plasma distributor or a plasma splitter.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber including a top plate, a rotary table rotatably disposed in the vacuum chamber, a first process gas supply part that supplies a first process gas to be adsorbed on a surface of a substrate placed on the rotary table, a plasma processing gas supply part that is disposed apart from the first process gas supply part in a circumferential direction of the rotary table and supplies a second process gas to the surface of the substrate, a separation gas supply part that supplies a separation gas for separating the first process gas and the second process gas, a plasma generator that converts the second process gas into plasma, and an elevating mechanism that moves at least one of the plasma generator and the rotary table upward and downward.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has an openable front panel. This front panel is opened to load printing paper into a paper tray which is invisibly located behind the front panel. The paper tray is provided in a mechanical sub-chassis movably disposed within a mechanical main chassis of the printer. The sub-chassis is laterally slidable relative to the main chassis via a pair of guide rails and is rotatable to open the front panel via a pair of arm plate to expose the paper tray outside of the printer body. The arm plates are attached to a drive shaft supported by the main chassis so as to allow slight relative displacement therebetween to cancel assembly error. According to rotation of the drive shaft, the both arm plates swing synchronously.

Abstract: A doctor blade holder has two holder parts (4, 5) to clamp a doctor blade (3) with a straight edge therebetween. The holder parts define opposed holder surfaces (6, 7), which, at least in part, form surfaces of an elliptical cylinder which has a cross-sectional form in the shape of an ellipse (Z) which has a longitudinal axis (B--B) which intersects the longitudinal axis (A--A) of the cylinder by an angle of inclination (.alpha.) which, customarily, is in the order of between 0.1.degree. to 1.degree., but may be substantially larger. The minor half-axis of the ellipse (Z) is equal to the radius (r) of the printing machine cylinder (1) and the major half-axis of the ellipse (Z) is longer than the length (1) of the printing machine cylinder against which the doctor blade edge is engaged.

Abstract: A print wheel printer includes a trigger unit casing and a main housing frame, a plurality of print wheels rotatably mounted on a print wheel shaft and having a corresponding ratchet wheel secured to one side of each print wheel. A plurality of rotatably mounted selective pawls are supported on the trigger unit casing for stopping the rotation of the print wheels at selected print wheel engagement positions wherein a corresponding pawl is rotated into position to engage a corresponding print wheel ratchet wheel. A rotatable reset lever is also mounted on the trigger unit casing for the purpose of returning the selective pawls to a print wheel disengagement position. The selective pawls and the reset lever are both supported on the trigger unit casing in a prealigned relationship and support means are provided on the main housing frame for supporting the set of print wheels.

Abstract: A device for connecting a toothed timing belt to a printhead carriage includes an arcuate member and a pair of posts extending downwardly from the carriage. The arcuate member includes a generally concave surface and a generally convex surface which is complementary to the toothed configuration of the timing belt. The posts are provided with angled surfaces located adjacent to the convex surface of the arcuate member to define passageways into which the belt is placed. Ledges at the lower ends of the posts prevent unintended slippage of the belt from the device when the belt is not under tension.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a print mechanism for printing key-input print information; an eraser for erasing a character or symbol printed on a recording medium with the print mechanism; a first memory for storing the key-input information; a second memory for storing information on a print object erased with the eraser; and an erasure controller for controlling the eraser in accordance with a comparison result between the erased object information stored in the second memory and the key-input information stored in the first memory.

Abstract: A printing ink fountain having a disposable liner made of paperboard or the like for use with flexographic printing presses. The liner, which is supported in a liner retainer, is generally upwardly open to receive therein a metering roller of the printing press. The liner includes a flexible drain hose attached to the bottom thereof for draining ink from the liner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a grooved perfecting cylinder in a sheet-fed rotary printing press of the type capable of one sided or two sided sheet printing, the apparatus including a substantially rigid covering having a friction reducing coating thereon and which can be quickly and easily installed and removed over the sheet supporting surface of the perfecting cylinder when the press is operated in the one sided printing mode to permit an anti-marking fabric net to be installed and used over the sheet supporting surface of the perfecting cylinder.

Abstract: A label printer and dispenser web transport system includes a motor driven platen and a print head resiliently directed against the platen between which an ink foil and label web are passed. The web travels over a triangular peeler bar disposed closely adjacent the platen and is then returned to the platen for passage between the platen and a spring biased idler roll deformably engaging the platen to maintain web tension over the peeler bar. The print head is pivotally mounted and is moved out of engagement with the platen when the print head is not printing. The ink foil is not advanced when the print head is moved away from the platen.

Abstract: A printing press dampener includes an elongated body member having a first and second passage provided therein. The first passage is connected to a supply of dampening fluid and the second passage is connected to a supply of pressurized gas. A plurality of chambers disposed along the length of the elongated body are in communication with both the first and the second passages. Fluid and gas run within these chambers. A plurality of spray nozzles, one in communication with each of the chambers, are positioned to spray dampening fluid against the dampener of the offset printing press.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper holding device for a printer which includes a supply arm mounted for pivotal motion on a housing on which a printing station is held. The supply arm holds a supply shaft thereon such that at least the supply shaft may be positioned outwardly of the housing so that paper in the form of a roll having such a large diameter that it cannot otherwise be accommodated in the housing can be used on the printer.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette including a casing provided with an opening for receiving a photoelectric device. In the casing is a ribbon which passes from a supply reel to a take-up reel. A guide leads the ribbon past the photoelectric device. If the ribbon breaks, the ribbon is pulled away from the photoelectric device to cause a change in received light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for setting up a print specification defined by a binary value representing the solid color density and the dot gain on an autotypically operating polychrome printing machine. Binary values representing solid color density and dot gain measured by means of a densitometer are tested for their conformity with the print specification with the aid of correlations between solid color densities and dot gains from previous, similar printings, in order to determine at the earliest possible time during the setting up of the printing press for a new print order whether the print specification can be achieved by the mere manipulation of its color area adjusters. If conformity can not be achieved, the printing press is shut down.

Abstract: A passive lubrication system for use in a high speed print hammer mechanism to provide continuous lubrication to all print hammers over the lifetime of the mechanism. A plurality of hammer elements are pivotally engaged by a common pivot pin element. The lubrication system comprises a hammer block and a reservoir block both made of sintered material and each containing a supply of lubricant. The hammer block supplies lubrication to the pivot pin/hammer element bearing interfaces by capillary action. The reservoir block in turn supplies lubricant to the hammer block by capillary action to replenish the supply of lubricant as depleted in the hammer block. The reservoir block has a porous microstructure in which the porosity is at least equal to but preferably in coarser than the porosity of the porous microstructure of the hammer block.

Abstract: Print drums are described wherein a special "alignment character" is placed, along with print-symbols, on the surface of the print drum, mixed-in with at least one of the character sets.

Abstract: A spray dampening system is disclosed having a number of spray nozzles arranged in laterally spaced relationship, for spraying dampening fluid onto a dampening roll of a printing press in laterally adjacent individual spray patterns which merge on the dampening roll surface in a substantially continuous and laterally extending composite spray pattern. The system, through an arrangement of a plurality of guideway slots on a stationary member and cam slots on a pair of reciprocally movable cam members, moves the spray nozzles simultaneously laterally toward and away from each other and axially toward and away from the dampening roll surface, so that the width of the composite spray pattern may be adjusted while preventing excessive overlapping of the laterally adjacent individual spray patterns.

Abstract: An office machine, for example, a printer, with a printing unit, individual paper transport via driving rollers and endless paper transport via a tractor is to be designed in such a way that as many operating modes as possible can be obtained by simple means. This is achieved at least one releasable cassette for individual paper is in the entry region of a printing unit. A tractor is pivotalby adjustable into a pushing and a pulling position and is located behind the printing unit. The following operating modes are selectable by adjustment of the tractor positions coupled to further components:a. Straight individual paper transport from the front via driving rollers either by manual infeed or by automatic cassette infeed, the tractor being in the pushing position.b. Curved endless paper transport from the rear via the tractor set in the pushing position and via a portion of the driving rollers.c. Straight endless paper transport from the front via the tractor set in the pulling position.

Abstract: A stamp printing machine has print drum carrying print wheels which are settable by push buttons to print a selected value of postage charge. The drum is driven by a mechanical device such as tensator spring motor. The motor is manually primed and a trip lever operated by insertion of mail item releases the print drum to rotate through one revolution to print the stamp on the mail item. The stamp machine may include a calculator on which the postage value may be manually entered. Electrical contacts operated by the rotation of the drum are connected across the M+ button of the calculator to add the postage amount to its memory.