Abstract: A chart recorder includes a chart drive assembly including a drive platen, first and second print heads, a slave controller for energizing the second print head, a master controller for energizing the first print head and for actuating the slave controller and a host computer for controlling the master and slave controllers and for supplying data thereto. The master controller controls the chart drive assembly to coordinate it with the energizations of the print heads, and it actuates the slave controller to synchronize the energizations of the print heads. The print heads are independently mounted in end-to-end relation and independently biased toward the chart and the platen at a printing station to enable them to compensate for deflections in the print head and/or the platen, as well as distortions in the heads due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: An instant-game-type lottery ticket comprises a card having a coating on the front side thereof which includes a first metallic layer and an outwardly facing layer of thermally responsive chemicals, a removable opaque layer over at least a portion of the thermally responsive chemical layer and a second metallic layer on the back side of the card. The metallic layers preferably comprise vacuum deposited silver-colored metallized layers having protective transparent plastic films thereon. Game-playing indicia can be imprinted on the lottery ticket at the point of sale without damaging the removable opaque layer by selectively activating the thermally responsive chemicals under the removable opaque layer with a thermal printhead. The transparent plastic films allow the card to be thermally imprinted with a thermal printhead without damaging the printhead and the metallized layers add opacity to the lottery ticket.

Abstract: A recording device for recording information from a remote source on a continuously moving material sheet including an improved printing head construction for printing indicia and other characters thereon for identifying such information. The recording device also includes a novel mechanism for supporting and disposing the sheet initially in a storage or rest position through and to a position wherein such sheet is in operative contact with essential portions of the device including printing means, recording means, and means for advancing the sheet through such device.