Abstract: A continuous form tractor drive is disposed out of the way and out of sight below the printing platen (which itself may be capable of feeding individual forms to a print station). The mechanical paper handling and printing mechanism is affixed to the upper portion of a hinged housing with the continuous form tractor drive mechanism depending therefrom such that, when rotated upwardly and rearwardly to an opened position, easy access is provided for loading paper into the continuous form paper drive.

Abstract: A character selecting mechanism for a printer having a plurality of type wheel units arranged axially on a shaft. The character selecting mechanism comprises a plurality of electromagnetic clutches each having a solenoid, a sleeve rotatably received in the center hole of the solenoid and rotated continuously during a printing cycle, and a pair of selector plates resiliently pressed against the opposite end surfaces of the sleeve, respectively, so as to be attracted to the sleeve and to be turned by the sleeve when the solenoid is energized, having tongues facing opposite to each other to form part of a magnetic path for the magnetic lines of force of the solenoid with a small gap therebetween an in contact through a small contact area with a driving disk for applying an assistant force to the selector plates in turning the selector plates in a character selecting direction.

Abstract: A device for driving an oscillating auxiliary gripper of a printing press includes an eccentric shaft rotatably mounted in the side upright of the press and on the eccentric portion of which a cam-actuated auxiliary gripper shaft is rotatably mounted for oscillation thereon rotation with a driven gear being rigidly secured to the eccentric shaft and meshing permanently with a drive gear that rotates with the impression cylinder of the press is arranged to provide positively cooperating drive elements and coaxiality of the input and output shafts for introducing the desired additional motion superimposed upon the continuous rotation of the lifting eccentric of the auxiliary gripper.

Abstract: A ramp ribbon cartridge adapted for ramp mounting of a ribbon in a printer device which comprises a cartridge housing having a first end and a second end, a ribbon stored in and extending from the cartridge housing and on which a printing head makes a printing track while printing, a drive wheel for pulling the ribbon out of the housing, with the drive wheel being rotatably mounted at a first end of the cartridge housing and being adapted to connect with a drive shaft in a printer device, a ramping mechanism between the cartridge housing and positioned near the second end of the housing so as to place the ribbon at a ramp angle to the horizontal, a loose fitting connection between the drive wheel and the drive shaft of the printer device so that the drive shaft still drives the drive wheel without binding when the drive wheel is tilted on its axis away from the vertical, whereby the printing track of the ribbon is at a ramp angle to the top and bottom edges of the ribbon and is wider than if the ribbon were p

Abstract: A ribbon cassette with a memory makes it possible to provide a relatively exact determination of either the amount of ribbon remaining or the end of the ribbon with small mechanical outlay in an electronically controlled office machine or typewriter. A memory which contains external contacts and is capable of counting and storing values is provided from which base units can be subtracted by the control unit of the machine depending on the amount of ribbon advanced. The novel ribbon cassette makes it possible to dependably determine and display either the amount of ribbon remaining or the end of the ribbon.

Abstract: In a dot matrix line printer in which a plurality of hammer springs mounted along the length of an elongated reciprocating hammerbank are selectively released or fired to impact dot printing impact tips mounted thereon against a print paper through a length of ink ribbon to print dots, the wear that would otherwise occur each time one of the hammer springs rebounds back into contact with a pair of pole pieces against which the hammer spring resides when in its retracted position is greatly minimized by chromium masses plated on the tip of the hammer spring and on the tips of the pole pieces. Chromium platings on each hammer spring are confined to the end of the spring and comprise either a pair of masses adjacent the different pole tips or a single mass encompassing both pole tips. The chromium masses are of convex contour and of hexavalent chromium composition to provide the masses with hard and smooth surfaces that slide over and do not abrade one another upon impacting.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head and a printing and erasing common-use ribbon. The thermal head is configured to move during erasing operation in a direction opposite to that during printing operation so as to reuse for subsequent printing operation a portion of the ribbon once used for preceding erasing operation.

Abstract: A function for an electronic typewriter is described which allows the operator of the typewriter to realign the print element of the typewriter to the prior adjacent, or the following adjacent line which contains textual material, even when the present position of the print element is other than a uniform line feed increment or multiple thereof, from the designated destination line. The electronic controls of the typewriter determine the present position of the print element and the vertical location of the line to which the print element is to move, and determines the distance and moves the record sheet to position the print element precisely over the designated line of text.

Abstract: There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.

Abstract: In a thermal printer including a thermal head, an ink ribbon interposed between the thermal head and a recording paper, the thermal head generating heat for effecting printing, and a movable ink ribbon guide for guiding the ink ribbon provided on a downstream side of the thermal head with respect to a scanning direction of the thermal head; the improvement comprising a drive source for driving the movable ink ribbon guide, and an elastic member provided in a path of transmission of a driving force to be transmitted from the drive source to the movable ink ribbon guide.

Abstract: A switchable printing couple particularly suited for use in newspaper and periodical printing is disclosed. A counter pressure cylinder and plate cylinder cooperate to print a moving paper web. An ink fountain, which does not require ink keys, supplies ink to a hard surfaced screen roller. Ink from the screen roller is transferred either directly to an elastic flexographic printing plate or indirectly through ink cylinders to a hard letterpress printing plate. The screen roller which dips into an ink fountain and from which excess ink can be removed by use of a doctor blade, is capable of being engaged with and lifted off the plate cylinder so that the printing couple can be used either in direct printing with an elastic flexographic printing plate or in indirect printing with a hard letterpress printing plate.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a single thermal recording medium interposed between printing paper and a thermal head so that when predetermined energy is applied to the thermal head, colorant on the thermal recording medium is transferred to the paper to print out a desired letter or symbol, or alternatively the printed letter or symbol is removed and erased from the paper because the colorant once transferred to the paper is attached to the colorant on the thermal recording medium. A printing method using the thermal printer is characterized in originally setting printing energy and erasing energy the latter of which is equal to or larger than the former, applying the printing energy to the thermal recording medium to effect printing operation, and applying the erasing energy to the thermal recording medium to attach it to the printed letter or symbol on the paper to remove and erase it from the paper.

Abstract: A recording head of a current application type serial printer is provided with two independent recording electrode groups on both sides of its tip. The angle of contact of the recording head with a platen of the printer is switched between a forward printing stroke and a backward printing stroke of a carrier so that, usually, the electrode group on the right-hand side of the recording head is used during the forward printing stroke, and the electrode group on the left-hand side during the backward printing stroke.

Abstract: A hybrid composite material is constructed from woven reinforced fabrics of Kevlar 49 and biaxially reinforced fibers of graphite and E-Glass bonded together with a thermosetting adhesive, for the application of custom orthotics. The material is designed with the idea of introducing different fibers at different locations of the orthotic in order to take advantage of the unique properties of each reinforcing fibers. The resulting material creates a hybrid composite that exhibits a balance of properties, in both the longitudinal and tranverse directions, unavailable with any single reinforcing fibers. A method of orthotic manufacturing involves a hand lay-up and forming procedure. The constructed composite material is formed and pressed on a prescribed cast, then allowed to cure under pressure. The post-cured material is stripped from the cast, then cut and ground and finally finished to the required orthotic.

Abstract: Rotary operated character selection apparatus is provided for postage meters having a rotating print drum and at least one print wheel in the drum for printing a selected character on an envelope or label. One set of print wheels may be provided for value selection, and another set of print wheels may be provided for date selection. The print wheels are turned by rotating print wheel gears, located adjacent an opening in an outside surface of the drum, by rotating the drum to a preselection position to engage the print wheel gear with a mating gear located outside of the drum, and rotating the mating gear until the proper print wheel character is selected. Devices are provided to determine the rotational angle of the drum and the positions of the print wheels, and an appropriate control system is provided, preferably with an input keyboard for selecting the value of postage to be dispensed and printed, and the date.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed in which a platen is mounted on a forms compensation device which is pivotally mounted so as to enable record media of varying thicknesses to be placed between the platen and associated printing elements to enable printing thereon. The forms compensation device is held in printing position by latch elements thereon which cooperate with complementary elements on the printer frame. The latch elements are associated with oppositely acting axially positioned armatures of a single-coil solenoid mounted on the forms compensation device, so that the solenoid is energized only when it is desired to move the latch elements out of engagement with the complementary elements on the printer frame, to enable the forms compensation device to be moved to a remote non-printing position in which record media may readily be inserted between the platen and the associated printing elements.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge may contain a single color ribbon or a multicolor ribbon, and is of wide U construction with a first pair of aligned (coaxial) pivot pins extending away from sides at locations therefrom remote from the legs of the U; a second pair of pins extends also from the sides and parallel to the first pair of pins; finally, a pair of support projections extend from the legs and also in opposite directions from the sides; the printer has two pivot mounts for receiving the pins of the first pair to thereby mount the cartridge, permitting pitch-like pivoting; in addition, the printer contains either (a) a second pair of mounts open from above for receiving the pins of the second pair, and thereby mounting the cartridge in a fixed position for single color printing, or (b) a cam shaft with at least one cam of different radial dimensions for engaging at least one of the projections such that upon turning of the cam a variable pivot-pitch is imparted upon the cartridge, the pins of the second pair being u

Abstract: A tape-ribbon supply cartridge for supplying tape and ribbon to a lettering apparatus having a mechanism for creating a lettering force and a mechanism for positioning a character to be lettered into lettering position. The cartridge includes an improved ribbon rewind feature driven by movement of the tape advancement means and positioned in a common plane with the ribbon supply spool.

Abstract: A postage meter has a print drum with print wheels which are shiftable to select the value of the postage. The positions of the print wheels are controlled by the positions of associated gears which in turn are controlled by a value setting drive mechanism. A unitary motor effects movement of a pinion from gear to gear and of the individual gears to set the values of the print wheels and also other drive functions of the meter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly of electromagnetic actuators for the hammers of an impact printer arranged side by side and extending along a line. Each actuator comprises a first stator part formed with at least one pole piece, a second stator part formed with at least one pole piece and positioned relative to the first stator part so that the pole pieces are spaced apart so as to form a gap therebetween. A single coil is associated with one of the stator parts. Each actuator also includes an armature member formed with a body of non-magnetizable material, at least one armature element of magnetizable material and a hammer head. The armature member is supported between the stator parts so that the armature element is located adjacent to the gap. Energization of the coil causes the generation of a flux which passes across the gap and through the armature element tending to move the armature element into the gap and to cause the hammer head to move into a print position.