Abstract: An on-demand narrow web electrophotographic printer and method of printing forms a latent image and a narrow web paper feeding mechanism feeds paper from a roll for closely spaced printouts of tickets or labels, such as adhesive-backed labels, for bar codes, receipts of arbitrary length, or lottery tickets. An endless rotary latent image carrier mechanism and cutter blade are synchronized with a paper infeed mechanism, a fixing unit, and an outfeed to feed, print and cut the paper printout at a controlled length and with no paper wastage. In different embodiments, a length of paper is either accumulated in advance or drawn back to a position ahead of the drum to allow on-demand operation without sacrificing printing efficiency.

Abstract: Printing apparatus of the dot matrix type comprising a plurality of print wire actuators employing moving coils. The wire printing tip of each actuator is activated by the coil magnetic field interacting with an efficiently applied magnetic field substantially perpendicular to the direction of current flow in the coil. The actuator comprises a thin planar lamination having low inertia and high heat dissipation for balanced pivotal motion to provide high speed letter quality printing and high resolution graphics.

Abstract: Apparatus for attenuating noise necessarily emitted from output slots of a printer mechanism enclosure and utilizing a minimal amount of enclosure components of significantly reduced size. Input and output housings or compartments for noise attenuation are provided, each of which form elongated narrow guideways. One end of each of the guideways of each of said compartments is aligned with the paper input and output slots, respectively, of the printer mechanism housing and is sealed to prevent noise at the juncture. The guideways have narrow passageways extending therethrough, but are sufficiently wide to permit the paper passing therethrough to move without experiencing any drag resistance due to the presence of the guideways. At least one surface of the guideways confronting and substantially parallel to the moving paper web is lined with a suitable noise attenuating foam.

Abstract: Fanfold paper emerges from an outfeed slot in a printer along a paper guide extender and falls by gravity into a paper basket to resume its original fanfold configuration. The paper slides between the extender and an upper paper forming guide which is slightly curled at its lower end to force the paper against the lower end of the paper guide extender to cause the paper to neatly fan fold within the basket.A wedge-shaped member is preferably provided upon the floor of the paper basket to urge the stacked paper into an inverted, slighty V-shaped configuration to further assure neat stacking and prevent corners of the paper from catching a perforation in the paper which would otherwise prevent neat stacking.