Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: A paper discharge section for a printer having a printer body includes first and second support portions mounted on the printer body. At least one of the support portions is slidable towards and away from the other support portion. A paper pushing down portion is mounted on the printer body and positioned intermediate the support portions. The first support portion can rotate between at least a first position at which the first support portion supports a first bottom side portion of the sheet of paper and at least a second position in which the first support portion does not support the first bottom side portion of a sheet of paper. A slidable edge guide for guiding a first side edge of a sheet of paper is provided and slidable towards the other edge guide. A linkage mechanism links the slidable edge guide to the first support portion to cause the first edge guide and first support portion to slide together.

Abstract: A stamp making unit is provided having a structure such that gel photosensitive resin for forming a stamping surface can be protected appropriately and non-cured portions of the photosensitive resin can easily be removed after the stamping surface has been formed. A package capable of satisfactorily storing a stamp making unit of the foregoing type is also provided. The stamp making unit uses photosensitive resin as a base material for forming a stamping surface of a stamp which changes from a gel state to a solid state due to received light. The stamping unit comprises a stock member, photosensitive resin bonded to a surface of the stock member on which the stamping surface is formed and a cover member bonded to a surface of the photosensitive resin having light transmission properties. Adhesion between the photosensitive resin in the gel state and the stock member is weaker than adhesion between the photosensitive resin in the gel state and the cover member.

Abstract: The test print data 30 not only includes the gray level examining charts but also includes explanations of the manual procedures. Accordingly, the user can easily perform the output characteristic setting operation. The test samples are automatically printed out in various situations where the output characteristic might be changed. Accordingly, the operability of the printer are greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and printing method for separating, image processing, and printing image objects on CD labels according to whether the image objects require multiple or two density levels.

Abstract: A printer wherein a drive roller of a pair of sheet discharge rollers is made of rubber and a driven roller of the pair of sheet discharge rollers is made of synthetic resin; the leading end of a sheet is guided so as to be abutted against the drive roller earlier than the driven roller; the sheet that is in the course of being discharged is guided by a sheet discharge tray so as to come in slidable contact with an edge portion that is on a print head side of a sheet discharge opening. As a result, the printer can provide satisfactory printing conditions quickly with a simple structure and reduce noise leaking from the sheet discharge opening.

Abstract: There is provided a cutting device for cutting tape material. A tape-cutting block of the cutting device for cutting off the tape material has a pair of tape-cutting edges which slide past each other to thereby cut the tape material to a cut-off piece having a predetermined length. The tape-cutting block has at least one movable blade formed with one of the pair of tape-cutting edges. An end-trimming block of the cutting device for trimming an end of the cut-off piece has a pair of end-trimming edges which slide past each other to thereby trim the end of the cut-off piece into a predetermined shape. The end-trimming block has at least one movable blade formed with one of the pair of end-trimming edges. The at least one movable blade of the tape-cutting block and the at least one movable blade of the end-trimming block are caused to perform cutting operations by a single cutting operation component device. There is also provided a printing apparatus incorporating the cutting device.

Abstract: A keyboard power generator provides a plurality of keys with one or more magnets mounted thereon. Additionally, a plurality of coils are mounted on both ends of the magnet such that, when the user is typing, the magnet traverses the coils. The movement of the magnet over the coils causes a current to be generated. In one embodiment, one magnet is mounted per key on the keyboard. In a second embodiment, a plurality of magnets are mounted per key to enhance the power generation capability of the keyboard. The currents generated collectively by the keys are provided to a charge pump which multiplies the voltage to achieve a level greater than the voltage level of the battery to be charged. The multiplied voltage is provided to a charging circuitry such as a trickle charger to recharge the battery. In this manner, the more information entered by the user, the more electricity is generated by the keyboard power generator.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus which enables an appropriate operation in accordance with a user's judgment even when printing operation is halted due to no ink residue. After the printing operation is halted due to running out of ink residue, the user judges whether or not a page, where printing operation is performed at the time of detection of no ink residue, is to be printed again, or to delete the image data corresponding to the printed page from an image memory. If any subsequent printing operation is necessary, an ink cartridge is exchanged and the printing operation is resumed. Ink residue detection is performed for the resumed printing operation, and image data is deleted or maintained according to the detected result.

Abstract: A hybrid printer has mounted thereon a plurality of printing mechanisms and error processing appropriate to the respective printing mechanisms with differing functions and appropriate to the printing paper can be performed. Thermal printer state detector 65 and wire dot printer state detector 66 are provided which have the capability of detecting the respective states of thermal printing mechanism 10 and wire dot printing mechanism 20 mounted on hybrid printer 1. Further, printing mechanism selector 71 is capable of determining the printing mechanism selected from command data indicating the type paper. This makes it possible for state determination member 72 to know the error status of each printing mechanism and to determined which printing mechanism is in operation, and therefore it is possible to quickly perform error processing appropriate to the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A stackable stamp assembly used to form images on a surface includes a substantially congruent and releasably engageable base, intermediate members, and cover assembly. A stamp is attached to each of the intermediate members. The intermediate members are dish-shaped so that the stamp of an upper member is received within the member disposed immediately below when the members are stacked one on top of the other. The assembly may also includes ways to facilitate the alignment of the assembly with the surface on which an imprint of the stamp is to be made.

Abstract: A method for printing in a draft mode of a serial printer includes a first printing step for printing information data in a first direction on a first line, and a second printing step for printing information data in a second direction opposite to the first direction on a second line. The second printing step includes checking the number of dots corresponding to the data to be printed, and aligning the dots to be printed corresponding to the first and second lines in a predetermined form by determining dots to be printed according to the checked number of dots. According the principles of the present invention, every other dot is skipped and printed in turns, that is, a first dot is printed and a next dot is not printed when the number of the adjacent dots is an odd number. To the contrary, when the number of the adjacent dots is an even number, a first dot is not printed and a next dot is printed.

Abstract: A method of printing that utilizes a printing head having a plurality of printing elements each of which is operable to transfer a pixel print medium from a carrier on to an adjacent substrate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler for printing and applying labels and for printing tags. The labeler has a keyboard, a display, a scanner, and a battery-containing handle. The labeler is user-friendly and compact. The labeler can be easily loaded with label and tag webs of different widths. The labeler has a discharge chute for the carrier web which can be slid to a position outside the labeler for easy cleaning.

Abstract: A print control apparatus for causing a printer unit to print data input from an information processing apparatus includes an analysis unit and a control unit. The analysis unit analyzes test data on the basis of print setting information. The control unit stores the analysis result obtained by the analysis unit in a memory. A print control method, a storage medium, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method are also disclosed.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide print control apparatus and method such that at the time of a document processing in a non-recording mode, a recording medium is not left on a feed path. To accomplish the above object, only for a period of time during which a print menu is displayed on a display, when the recording medium is detected on a sheet sensor on the feed port side, a feed motor is rotated, thereby feeding the recording medium to a predetermined position. At a time point when the print menu is finished, when the recording medium is detected on the sheet sensor on the feed port side, the recording medium is delivered and the print menu is finished after that.

Abstract: An ink cartridge detection circuit and method for detecting whether an ink cartridge is mounted in an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink cartridge circuit includes a driver for driving a corresponding nozzle by applying a driving power supply voltage to a corresponding heating element; a voltage detector connected to the heating elements for detecting a voltage level of the driving power supply voltage dropped by means of driving of the heating elements; and a controller for driving one or more of the heating elements through the driver and for comparing a voltage level detected by the voltage detector with a preset reference voltage level in order to detect whether an ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a character printing apparatus in which an input character string is printed on a plurality of print mediums loaded in the apparatus and having a transversal dimension, on which limitation is imposed, and different longitudinal dimensions.

Abstract: A novel plug connector is intended to improve the capability of triggering a consumer. The plug connector has a plug which has three contact blades, of which a first contact blade is connected to a first cable connection by means of a first electrical lead element, a second contact blade is connected to a second cable connection by means of a second electrical lead element, and a third contact blade is connected to the second electrical lead element by means of a third electrical lead element and via electric components; one connection cable, leading to the consumer, is soldered to each of the two cable connections. The multi-pole plug connector is especially suitable for electrically connecting an electric controller to an electric motor.

Abstract: A dot-matrix line printer includes a printing shuttle which moves reciprocally to carry out a printing operation, and a balancing shuttle which moves in a direction opposite to the direction of the movement of the printing shuttle. The balancing shuttle is partly inserted in the printing shuttle so as not to interfere with the latter upon printing and so that the center of gravity of the balancing shuttle is located as close to the center of gravity of the printing shuttle as possible.