Abstract: A printer including a cover plate with a plurality of ribs connected along the bottom surface thereof to guide that portion of a recording medium which has passed by a print head through the discharge port of the printer. A release assembly controls and is operable for varying the level of pressure exerted by a pair of plates against a platen. A guide plate formed from portions having different sloped surfaces is detachably connected through clips to a frame of the printer. The printer also includes a mechanism for automatically setting a timing belt to a predetermined constant level of tension.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ribbon cartridge for an electronic typewriter. The cartridge includes a case for containing the ribbon, a supplying spool for supplying the ribbon, a winding spool for winding the ribbon supplied from the supplying spool, a tension member for tensioning the ribbon, a resiliently pressing means for contacting the winding spool with the winding gear, and a guide roll for guiding the ribbon. The tension member comprises an L-shaped spring, whose middle curved portion is supported on the spindle of the supplying spool. A first branch of the L-shaped spring is fixed on a corner structure, while a second branch thereof holds the ribbon to tension it. The resilient pressing means includes a pin spring resiliently pressing the spindle of the winding spool toward the winding gear. The side of the guide roll is tapered bidirecionally from the center line between the both ends thereof toward the both ends so that the ribbon is guided without being folded longitudinally.

Abstract: Device for cleaning at least one of a plate and a blanket cylinder of an offset printing machine, includes a plurality of cleaning elements disposed adjacent one another in a direction parallel to a cylindrical peripheral surface of at least one of a plate and a blanket cylinder; a driving device for positioning each of the cleaning elements towards and away from the at least one cylinder; and an input and control device for actuating a respective cleaning element; and method of operating the device.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a first carrier carrying a first recording head thereon and movable, a second carrier carrying a second recording head thereon and movable, a first recording mode in which the first carrier is moved to thereby effect recording, and a second recording mode in which the first carrier and the second carrier are both moved to thereby effect recording.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus including a feed knob for manually feeding a recording sheet, a torque limiter is provided for preventing transmission of a torque more than a predetermined value from the feed knob to a recording sheet feeding portion.

Abstract: A paper tension adjusting device in which one of the tractors with feeding pins changing feeding apertures in the paper is movable widthwise to adjust widthwise paper tension. The desired tension is determined from paper thickness which is in turn determined from the hammer flight time. Lengthwise tension is adjusted by adjusting paper clampers separated from the tractors. The tension is both widthwise and lengthwise directions is determined by optically sensing the positions of the feeding pin with respect to the aperture in which that pin is engaged.

Abstract: A portable screen printing apparatus useful for printing designs, lettering, and numerals on garments and other articles containing novel screen holder assemblies which allow variable positioning of the thermal printing screen over the surface of the garment. The screen printing apparatus consists generally of a support base, four positionable screen holder assemblies hingedly affixed to a pivoting plate, an elevating plate, and a platform supporting the article to be printed on. Each screen holder assembly consists basically of a two panel telescoping frame endwardly affixed with a U-shaped channel. The channel is affixed with two thumb screws for securing the thermal frame portion of a thermal printing screen. The top telescoping panel with the U-shaped channel endwardly attached, can be extended longitudinally over the surface of the garment on the article platform.

Abstract: Flat bed thermal printing apparatus adapted to print information on to an elongate substrate, or on to products disposed upon the substrate, at a printing area within the apparatus, the said substrate being movable through the apparatus in a step by step movement, with a stop for printing between each step, along a path which causes the substrate to be disposed in a substantially flat position as the substrate is stopped at the printing area after each step wherein the apparatus comprises a printing head provided with a multiplicity of individually energizable dot type thermal elements, means to move the printing head relative to the substrate while the substrate is stationary at the printing area between its stepwise movements through the apparatus with the substrate in its substantially flat disposition, means selectively to energize the said printing elements during movement of the printing head to effect printing and means positively to hold the substrate in position at the printing area during printing.

Abstract: A method of producing a printer so as to effect a low profile for sit/stand operations and to facilitate the removal of a jammed document from a print station in the printer. The printer is formed of a bottom portion and a top portion which are hinged together to enable these portions to be moved from an operative or assembled position and an open position which exposes the print station to facilitate the removal of a jammed document. The bottom portion has an overall height which is small relative to the overall height of the top portion so as to make the printer conducive to sit/stand operations. Latches are used to detachably latch the bottom and the top portions in the assembled and open positions mentioned.

Abstract: An improved sheet separator and guide construction for a printer having a supply station and a feeder/platen for feeding a top sheet from a supported sheet stack and transporting it through the printing region. The construction includes a force plate for urging a supported sheet stack so that its top sheet contacts the feeder-platen and is moved toward a supply station egress region. A pair of sheet corner deflectors located respectively at opposite edges of the supply station egress region are constructed to direct sheet corners fed there-against inwardly toward the sheet center, and a central deflector located along a central portion of the egress region in spaced relation between the corner deflectors is constructed to direct the center lead-edge of a sheet fed there-against upwardly toward the printer top.

Abstract: A self-storing and inking stamp comprises an upper piece containing a stamping die at its lower end and a lower piece with an ink pad and piston which is accessible to the fingers of the user through a twisting bar. The piston and twisting bar are arranged in the lower piece such that they do not project beyond the plane of the base of the lower piece so that the lower piece can stably rest on a horizontal surface. The upper piece is threaded into the lower piece to bring the stamping die into contact with or at least into close proximity to the ink pad. Thereafter, the piston can be pushed axially in the direction of the ink pad and stamping die while being twisted to effect complete inking of the die.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively reinking an endless ribbon in that portion of the ribbon known as the ribbon print track. The ribbon print track is created in an endless ribbon by the repeated striking of the ribbon by a print mechanism thereby deforming the ribbon and depleting it of ink. Reinking the entire ribbon uses more ink than is necessary. Reinking only the print track extends the life of the ribbon by selectively using the available supply of ink. The apparatus achieves this result by use of an ink reservoir which supplies ink to a drive roller, which through a rotating pinching movement in cooperation with another roller, advances a ribbon into a stuffing cavity of an ink cartridge. The ink reservoir is rotatably mounted and formed to apply ink only to that portion of the drive roller which corresponds to the print track of the ribbon.

Abstract: Washing device of a printing machine for cleaning the outer cylindrical surface of a roller or a cylinder, comprising a supply roll and a take-up roll for a cleaning cloth dampenable with washing medium, means for withdrawing the cleaning cloth from the supply roll by winding it on the take-up roll via an actuable pressure applicator so that, during a washing operation, the pressure applicator, presses the cleaning cloth against a roller or cylinder, the pressure applicator having an elastic membrane member which is sealed with respect to a spacer, and means for forming a compressed-air cushion between the membrane member and the spacer, a holding member for receiving the spacer therein in a manner like that of a sliding block, the membrane member having marginal regions thereof engaging behind guiding projections of the holding member, the spacer being biased towards the guiding projections for sealingly clamping the marginal regions of the membrane therebetween.

Abstract: Device for printing endorsements on documents passing through a document processing apparatus. The device comprises a rotatable outer housing having a cylindrically shaped exterior surface and a ring gear having a toothed first part and a toothless second part. A stamp for printing endorsements and at least one band having digits or characters thereon form a substantially continuous surface with the exterior surface of the outer housing. When the endorsing device is rotated by a pinion meshing with the ring gear, the digits or characters, as well as the stamp, contact a document passing through the document processing apparatus. During the rotation of the outer housing, further rotation is prevented by an arm which engages a projection on the outer housing and biasing means which biases the arm into locked engagement with the projection. When the arm engages the projection, the pinion is unable to rotate the outer housing as the toothless part of the ring gear is now facing the pinion.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer has two print head carriages, supported in parallel, and two print heads for printing a receipt and a journal in a tandem printing station arrangement. A drive cam with a rail on the periphery thereof is coupled to both carriages to drive the carriages in opposite directions upon rotation of the drive cam. The movement of one carriage acts as a balance to movement of the other carriage and thereby eliminates or substantially reduces vibration during printing operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a heat transfer printer. The printer comprises: a pair of upper and lower chutes for guiding printed paper; an idle roller provided on the upper chute; a paper discharging motor bracket provided on the lower chute; a paper discharging lever rotatably provided on the paper discharging motor bracket; and a paper discharging pulley disposed at a tip of the paper discharging lever, wherein, at the time of discharging the paper, the paper discharging lever is rotated by a driving force of a motor provided on the bracket to cause the paper discharging pulley to project from the lower chute so as to come into contact with the idle roller, while, at the time of printing, the motor is stopped.

Abstract: An air cushion drum for a sheet-fed printing press is formed with an internal body and an outer casing defining a cavity inside the drum through which air streams are supplied to issue from orifices in the drum casing and force the sheets away therefrom. To reduce airflow noise a sound-absorbent layer which has radial ducts is disposed in the cavity and forms therein an air-permeable partition which is equidistant from the drum casing. In the preferred embodiment, the sound-absorbent layer is supported by a lattice formed with droplet shaped members which further reduce air flow resistance and the sound-absorbent layer which may be formed of felt or foam is supported on the lattice by an outer stabilizing layer of plastic material.

Abstract: A paper feed roller arrangement for a printer which permits exchanging of a ribbon cassette and assures a maximum range of paper on which printing can be made. The paper feed roller arrangement includes two pairs of paper feed rollers, one disposed on the upstream side and one disposed the downstream side of a print head in a feeding direction of paper for feeding the paper in a planar condition. One of the paper feed rollers which is opposed to a path of the ribbon cassette when the ribbon cassette is to be exchanged is disposed for movement toward and away from the print head. Upon ordinary feeding of paper, the movable paper feed roller is positioned proximate the print head where it cooperates with a corresponding paper feed roller to feed the paper. When a ribbon cassette is to be exchanged, the movable paper feed roller is moved away from the print head to increase the spacing in the vicinity of the print head to facilitate such exchanging of the ribbon cassette.

Abstract: A re-inking device for a fabric ribbon carried in a cassette with a free run section of ribbon exposed for re-inking, in which the cassette support and location means, the rotational drive means and the combined ink reservoir and dispenser are all mounted to one side of a base member and are all movable relatively thereto. The invention also includes a method of re-inking a cassette fabric ribbon.

Abstract: A screen printing arrangement is disclosed including a mesh or screen attached to a frame, the screen having a pattern area defined therein. Strips of thin rectangularly shaped material are glued to the bottom surface of the screen, outside the pattern area. During the screen printing process, the strips keep the screen mesh and pattern from undesirably stretching. Fine conductor lines or conductor line spacings on the order of 5 mils may be achieved.